TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - JULY 11, 2018

Here are the PICTURES and the VIDEO from VBS 2018. A big shout out to Tiffany Kim for doing these.

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Mirror Check

Today is July 11, 2018

Welcome to your mid-week!

Mirrors reflect light. They reflect the light of whatever and whoever is in front of it. 

John 8:12 tells us that Jesus is the light of the world.
Matthew 5:13-16 tells us that we are supposed to be the light of the world.
1 Peter 1:16 tells us to be holy because God is holy.

In essence, we are a mirror. We need to reflect the light of Christ. Jesus Christ needs to be in the forefront of our lives. Our lives should reflect that Jesus is Lord. 

And, while this may look like morality and goodness, the most important aspect that we need to reflect is the gospel message we received. That message of life and death needs to be shared.

Paul says it like this:

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

And so, that is our challenge. Doing good and being moral is not the end all be all. The source of that morality must be shared. The foundation of that goodness must be proclaimed. The author and perfecter of our faith must be credited.

We need to check our mirrors and see if we really are reflecting the light of Christ or something else.

God's blessing upon you and I look forward to seeing you all Sunday.

- Frank Kim

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Upcoming Events

• July 11 (Wed) [TODAY] – All Generation Cell Group Apologetics Study. 7pm at the Benedicts.
  • Upcoming Topic: the Argument from Design (the Teleological Argument), which includes the Fine Tuning of the Universe and) the Information and Design in Biology.
• July 12 (Thurs) - Young Married/Families Cell Group. 6:45pm.
• July 14 (Sat) – CPG Cell Group Outing – Rock Climbing this Saturday!
  • Where: The Hangar 18, 4926 Rosecrans ave, Hawthorne, Ca 90250
  • When: 3:30pm-5:30pm, Dinner provided afterwards. Cost: FREE! Contact Eric to RSVP.
• July 14 (Sat) Hike with Mike! This Saturday at 4pm
  • Enjoy an afternoon hike by the cool tide pool named after a favorite mollusk for Koreans. Meet at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park. The Hike will be led by docents from Palos Verdes Land Conservancy, Bring water and good hiking shoes. Questions? Please contact Mike at lyu33@yahoo.com
• July 15 (Sun) – Ministry Council Meeting. 12:30pm.
• July 15 (Sun) - PV Cell Group. 1pm
• July 15-21 (Sun-Sat) – Youth Summer Missions. They leave 1:15pm on Sunday.
• July 17-30 (Tues-Mon) – Thailand Summer Missions with SBT

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Ministry Requests

• Thailand Summer Missions Donation Request by this Sunday
  Mango House (orphanage in Chiang Mai) is asking for donations of children’s bathing suits ages 4-15. For both boys and girls. New or used is okay. Our mission team will be taking the children on an outing to a water park. Questions please contact Caroline Shin at ccshin@gmail.com

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​Important Summer Dates to Note

• July 27-29 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat at Mount Kare
  • $120 per person, $400 max per family by THIS SUNDAY. This will be the last day to register.
    $60, $200 per family for those needing scholarship or who are in college* (please talk to Pastor Frank if you need financial assistance.)
    Registration Form: link
• Aug 5 (Sun) – Graduation/Promotion Sunday
• Aug 10-12 (Fri-Sun) – Youth Summer Retreat

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Proverbs 27:19 - "As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart."

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - JULY 5, 2018

Witnessing Miracles

Today is July 5, 2018

Welcome to July and your mid-week!

In Galatians 5:7-6:8 , Paul gives 8 different instructions to the church of Galatia that he labels as 'good.' They include:

Getting rid of bad influences, loving your neighbor, living by the Spirit, restoring those in sin, carrying each other's burdens, examining yourself in the light of Christ, sharing wisdom, and acting to please God.

These are good to do. However, Paul also labels them as potential sources of weariness. To encourage the church to, as it says in Ephesians 2:10, "...do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do..." Paul tells them this:

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

Paul encourages them not to give into the weariness but to continue doing good. And he mentions that, in the 'proper time' we will 'reap a harvest.' What is the harvest? Why, the ability to see miracles.

This past week we held VBS at our church. With only 4 weeks to plan a 4 day event with 85 kids registered and over 50 volunteers, we were definitely trying our best to do the good work Paul describes in Galatians 5:7-6:8, but we were also getting very weary. But, instead of giving up, we finished strong; and on the last day we saw smiles where there once were frowns, laughter where there once was ambivalence, and the proclamation of Jesus as Lord as many came to know and accept the gospel message of Christ.

For those of us who did not give up, in the proper time, we reaped a harvest; we saw miracles.

I've been doing skid row missions for 2 years now. 2 years serving the same block in skid row. This past week one of the regulars approached me to tell me an update about his life. He had just passed the drug screening test and was likely about to receive housing through the welfare system. 

For a place where there is so much hopelessness, that news was a miracle; a harvest reaped at the proper time. And that is the point.

Maybe you've been trying to do the good work of God but are feeling weary. Maybe no one sees you or no one encourages you and your thinking of giving up. Maybe you have already given up. Well, if that is you, then the words of Paul are words for you. Don't grow weary in the good that you are doing and have done for God. Try again. Get back at it. Don't give up. Press on. Do that good. Your harvest will come. Don't give up. 

For at the proper time you will reap your harvest; you will see miracles too.

God's blessing upon you this week and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday. 

- Frank Kim

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Upcoming Events

• July 11 (Wed) – All Generation Cell Group Apologetics Study. 7pm at the Benedicts. Upcoming Topic: the Argument from Design (the Teleological Argument), which includes the Fine Tuning of the Universe and) the Information and Design in Biology.
• July 12 (Thurs) - Young Married/Families Cell Group. 6:45pm.
• July 14 (Sat) – CPG Cell Group Outing (tentative)
• July 15 (Sun) - PV Cell Group [Updated]. 1pm
• July 15 (Sun) – Ministry Council Meeting. 12:30pm.
• July 17-30 (Tues-Mon) – Thailand Summer Missions with SBT

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Ministry Requests

• Thailand Summer Missions Donation Request
  Mango House (orphanage in Chiang Mai) is asking for donations of children’s bathing suits ages 4-15. For both boys and girls. New or used is okay. Our mission team will be taking the children on an outing to a water park. Questions please contact Caroline Shin at  ccshin@gmail.com
• Youth Orchestra Requests
  Youth Orchestra is looking for more students interested in joining. They are also looking for volunteer music teachers and musical instrument donations. Questions please contact Ruth Chon at ki.ruth37@gmail.com

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​Important Summer Dates to Note

• July 14-21 (Sun-Sat) – Youth Summer Missions
• July 17-30 (Tues-Mon) – Thailand Summer Missions with SBT
• July 27-29 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat at Mount Kare
  • $100 per person, $350 max per family by July 8 [THIS SUNDAY!]
    $120 per person, $400 max per family by July 15
    $60, $200 per family for those needing scholarship or who are in college* (please talk to Pastor Frank if you need financial assistance.)
    Registration Form: link
• Aug 5 (Sun) – Graduation/Promotion Sunday
• Aug 10-12 (Fri-Sun) – Youth Summer Retreat

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Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - JUNE 27, 2018

Shipwrecked

Today is June 27, 2018

Welcome to your mid-week!

With VBS 2018 "Shipwrecked...Rescued by Jesus!' all this week, this past Sunday we looked at 1 Timothy 1:18-20, when Paul wrote to Timothy about the people whose faith were 'shipwrecked.' And we looked at the context of the passage and the major characters who were in play.

Here we had Apostle Paul encouraging, preparing, and empowering his younger co-worker in Christ, Timothy.

Here we had Timothy, receiving and learning and following the wisdom of Apostle Paul.

Here we had Hymenaeus and Alexander, who did not hold on to faith AND a good conscious; who did not believe their proclamation of faith should be consistent with their moral actions; and who were, by Paul's account, 'shipwrecked' spiritually.

And, lastly, here we had false teachers who led Hymenaeus and Alexander astray.

And the challenge we asked ourselves, was whether we are or can be any of these?

Can we be Apostle Paul to anyone around us? Can we encourage and prepare and empower anyone we know? 

Can we be like Timothy? Can we humbly receive and learn and follow someone else's wisdom? Especially from someone we know cares about us?

Are we going off course like Hymenaeus and Alexander? Are we hypocrites?

Are we false teachers? Is the fruit of our deeds the fruit of the Spirit or is it the opposite?

Because, if we say we are Christian and we are trying to be more like Christ, then we need to be more aware of both ourselves and the situations and opportunities that arrive at any given moment. And, in those moments, if we are prayerfully prepared and spiritually alert, we can be like Apostle Paul or like Timothy and not like Hymenaeus and Alexander and the false teachers.

And that is the bottom line. God's blessing upon you as you wrestle with these challenges and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.
  
- Frank Kim

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Upcoming Events

• June 29 (Fri) – Skid Row Prep
• June 30 (Sat) – Skid Row Mission
• July 11 (Wed) – All Generation Cell Group Apologetics Study. 7pm at the Benedicts. Upcoming Topic: the Argument from Design (the Teleological Argument), which includes the Fine Tuning of the Universe and) the Information and Design in Biology.
• July 12 (Thurs) - Young Married/Families Cell Group. 6:45pm.

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Ministry Requests

• Thailand Summer Missions Donation Request
  Mango House (orphanage in Chiang Mai) is asking for donations of children’s bathing suits ages 4-15. For both boys and girls. New or used is okay. Our mission team will be taking the children on an outing to a water park. Questions please contact Caroline Shin at  ccshin@gmail.com
• Youth Orchestra Requests
  Youth Orchestra is looking for more students interested in joining. They are also looking for volunteer music teachers and musical instrument donations. Questions please contact Ruth Chon at ki.ruth37@gmail.com

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​Important Summer Dates to Note

• July 14-21 (Sun-Sat) – Youth Summer Missions
• July 17-30 (Tues-Mon) – Thailand Summer Missions with SBT
• July 27-29 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat at Mount Kare
  • $100 per person, $350 max per family by July 8
    $120 per person, $400 max per family by July 15
    $60, $200 per family for those needing scholarship or who are in college* (please talk to Pastor Frank if you need financial assistance.)
    Registration Form: link
• Aug 5 (Sun) – Graduation/Promotion Sunday
• Aug 10-12 (Fri-Sun) – Youth Summer Retreat

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Philippians 1:9-11 - "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - JUNE 20, 2018

Biblical Belief

Today is June 20, 2018

Welcome to your mid-week!

This past Sunday we talked about biblical belief. The Hebrew word for it is 'aman.' Basically, it is faith and trust with action. Without all 3 it is not 'aman.' 

In John 12:37, people saw the miracles of Jesus but did not have faith in him. They did not have 'aman' for Jesus.

In John 12:42-43, people had faith in Jesus but trusted people more than him. They did not have 'aman' for Jesus.

In Psalm 79, God's people had both faith and trust in God but acted selfishly for themselves. They did not have 'aman' for God.

Without faith there is no trust. Without trust there is no action. Without faith & trust with action, there is no 'aman.'  

If you call yourself a Christian then you need to have 'aman.'

Romans 12:2 tells us of the importance of studying in building up our faith.
The gospel message is important in building our trust for God.
Action is the fruit; the choice we need to make the more we learn, grow, and trust in the Lord.

Like all the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, we need to have 'aman' for God and that is our continued challenge moving forward. God's blessing upon you this week and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

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Upcoming Events

• June 21 (Thurs) - YMF Cell Group. 6:45pm at the Fellowship Hall.
• June 25-28 (Mon-Thurs) – VBS. 5:30pm-8:30pm
  • $60 per child.
• June 29 (Fri) – Skid Row Prep
• June 30 (Sat) – Skid Row Mission

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​Important Summer Dates to Note

• July 14-21 (Sun-Sat) – Youth Summer Missions
• July 17-30 (Tues-Mon) – Thailand Summer Missions with SBT
• July 27-29 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat at Mount Kare
  • $100 per person, $350 max per family by July 8
    $120 per person, $400 max per family by July 15
    $60, $200 per family for those needing scholarship or who are in college* (please talk to Pastor Frank if you need financial assistance.)
    Registration Form: link
• Aug 5 (Sun) – Graduation/Promotion Sunday
• Aug 10-12 (Fri-Sun) – Youth Summer Retreat

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James 2:26 - "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."

TFPC EM Newsletter - June 13, 2018

Got Warriors?

Today is June 13, 2018

Welcome to your mid-week!

When you read of David's life in 1st and 2nd Samuel; when you read his writings as found in the book of Psalms, you see a man who, on one hand, is a man after God's own heart. We see someone who loves God's commands, who is thankful, and who is repentant. 

However, you also see his moral failing; a failing that influences his children negatively and almost destroys his entire legacy.

Why the inconsistency?

Well, 2 Samuel 23 and 24 tells us why. After 22 chapters of describing King David's reign, the last two chapters of 2 Samuel ends with the listing of the 37 mighty warriors and 1.3 million fighting men by David's side. 

That's a lot of support and accountability. 

Where were they during David's moral failing? 2 Samuel 11 tells us that they were not with him. David had sent them away. David chose to stay home alone. And, in that moment with no support and accountability, David failed.

I do not believe this is a coincidence.

For every Kevin Durant or Mick Jagger or Luke Skywalker there's a supporting cast to help them. For King David, we learn in 2 Samuel 23 & 24 that his supporting cast was 

37 mighty warriors and 1.3 million fighting men.

And, with them, he was able to be known as a man who followed after God's own heart.

Our challenge is to ask ourselves: do we have that kind of support spiritually? Do we have mighty warriors helping us to be men and woman of God who follow after His own heart or, do we have no one. And, if we have no one, maybe it's time we ask those people in our community for help.

If David needed 37 mighty warriors and 1.3 million fighting men by his side, maybe we need a few of our own too.

God's blessing upon you this week and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

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Upcoming Events

• June 21 (Thurs) - YMF Cell Group. 6:45pm at the Fellowship Hall.
• June 25-28 (Mon-Thurs) – VBS
  • VBS Registration!
    Early Bird registration by THIS SATURDAY (June 16). Cost: $40 per child with $10 sibling discount per additional sibling. (So 2nd sibling is $30, 3rd sibling is $20). 
    Late registration after June 16. Cost: $60 per child, no sibling discount
• June 29 (Fri) – Skid Row Prep
• June 30 (Sat) – Skid Row Mission

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​Important Summer Dates to Note

• July 14-21 (Sun-Sat) – Youth Summer Missions
• July 17-30 (Tues-Mon) – Thailand Summer Missions with SBT
• July 27-29 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat at Mount Kare
  • $100 per person, $350 max per family by July 8
    $120 per person, $400 max per family by July 15
    $60, $200 per family for those needing scholarship or who are in college* (please talk to Pastor Frank if you need financial assistance.)
    Registration Form: link
• Aug 5 (Sun) – Graduation/Promotion Sunday
• Aug 10-12 (Fri-Sun) – Youth Summer Retreat

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Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."